Petunia plant named ‘PDBZI934-0’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Petunia  cultivar named ‘PDBZI934-0’ is disclosed, characterized by unique, fully double Red-Purple flowers with mounding to trailing plant habit. Plants of the new variety are highly floriferous with exceptionally good branching. The new variety is a  Petunia , suitable as an outdoor garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Petunia hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘PDBZI934-0’.

The new Petunia cultivar resulted as part of a planned breeding programby the inventor Jun Tsukahara, in Yame, Fukuoka, Japan. The objective ofthe breeding program was to develop new Petunia varieties withinteresting colors and attractive plant forms.

The new variety resulted from the crossing of the seed parent, anunnamed, unpatented proprietary Petunia seedling with the pollen parent,an unnamed, unpatented proprietary Petunia seedling in September 2006.The new variety was discovered in May of 2007 by the inventor in a groupof seedlings resulting from that crossing, in a commercial greenhouse inYame, Fukuoka, Japan.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘PDBZI934-0’ by vegetativecuttings was first performed at a commercial greenhouse in Yame,Fukuoka, Japan in May 2007. Subsequently many generations have beenproduced and have shown that the unique features of this cultivar arestable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘PDBZI934-0’ has not observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length and lightintensity, without however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘PDBZI934-0’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘PDBZI934-0’ as a new and distinct Petuniacultivar:

-   -   1. Unique Red-Purple flower color.    -   2. Mounding and trailing plant shape.    -   3. Highly floriferous plant habit.    -   4. Fully double flowers.    -   5. Exceptionally good branching.

COMPARISON TO THE PARENT VARIETIES

Plants of the new cultivar ‘PDBZI934-0’ are similar in mosthorticultural characteristics to plants of the unnamed proprietary seedparent. However, the new variety has fully double flower whereas theseed parent does not have a fully double flower. Flower size of the newvariety is larger than the seed parent. Additionally, plants of the seedparent produce Purple-Violet flowers, whereas ‘PDBZI934-0’ producesRed-Purple flowers.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘PDBZI934-0’ are similar in mosthorticultural characteristics to plants of the unnamed proprietarypollen parent. However, the pollen parent has Violet-Purple flowers, anddoes not produce fully double flowers.

COMPARISON TO COMMERCIAL VARIETIES

The new cultivar can be compared to the patented commercial variety‘KERPRILCOMP’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,327. ‘PDBZI934-0’ is similar tothis commercial variety in most horticultural characteristics, includingdouble flowering, however, plants of the new variety produce darkRed-Purple flowers, compared to the light purple flowers of‘KERPRILCOMP’. Additionally the new cultivar has a more mounding habitthan ‘KERPRILCOMP’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘PDBZI934-0’ grown in a greenhouse, in a 10 inchcommercial basket. Age of the plant photographed is approximately 20weeks from 5 rooted cuttings. The photograph was taken usingconventional techniques and although colors may appear different fromactual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible byconventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The followingobservations and measurement describe ‘PDBZI934-0’ plants grown in acommercial greenhouse in Oxnard, Calif. The growing temperature rangedfrom 18° C. to 25° C. The greenhouse is subject to partial shade.General light conditions are bright, normal sunlight with some shadeduring the brightest part of the day. Measurements and numerical valuesrepresent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Petunia hybrid ‘PDBZI934-0’.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to initiate roots: About 7 days at approximately 25° C.-   Time to develop roots: About 14 to 21 days at approximately 25° C.-   Root description: Fine, fibrous.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Mounding to slightly trailing.-   Age of the plant described: Approximately 20 weeks from 5 rooted    cuttings.-   Pot size of plant described: Approximately 10 inch basket.-   Height: Approximately 20 cm from soil line to top of plant.-   Plant spread: Approximately 55 cm at widest point.-   Growth rate: Rapid.-   Branching characteristics: Free branching.-   Length of primary lateral branches: Approximately 17 cm.-   Quantity of primary lateral branches: Approximately 60.-   Characteristics of primary lateral branches:    -   -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.3 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Green 143B.        -   Texture.—Pubescent.        -   Strength.—Highly flexible, moderately strong.-   Internode length: Approximately 1.7 cm.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Quantity.—Approximately 20 per main lateral branch.        -   Average length.—Approximately 3.5 cm.        -   Average width.—Approximately 1.3 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Oblanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture of top surface.—Matte with pubescence.        -   Pubescence.—Very short, less than 1 mm hairs, densely            covering leaf.        -   Aspect.—Very slightly recurved.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 137B. Young            foliage under side: Near RHS Green 137C. Mature foliage            upper side: Near RHS Green 137C. Mature foliage under side:            Near RHS Green 137D.        -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: Near RHS            Yellow-Green 144B. Venation color under side: Near RHS            Yellow-Green 144C.        -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 0.2 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 0.1 cm. Color: Near RHS Green 137C. Texture:            Pubescent.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: Spring and Summer.-   Days to flowering from rooted cutting: Approximately 50.-   Inflorescence and flower type and habit: Singly occurring at leaf    axils, fully double flowers with fused petals.-   Rate of flower opening: Approximately 3 to 5 days from bud to fully    opened flower.-   Flower longevity on plant: Approximately 1 week.-   Approximate quantity of flowers per plant: Approximately 150 flowers    and buds.-   Flowers: Persistent.-   Bud:    -   -   Shape.—Oblong.        -   Length.—Approximately 3 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 1.5 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Purple 75B, distal end near Greyed-Purple            187A.-   Flower size:    -   -   Diameter.—Approximately 5 cm.        -   Length.—Approximately 5 cm.        -   Flower measurements.—Individual tube not measurable because            filled with petals.        -   Petal quantity.—Approximately 15, irregularly sized and            fused.-   Petals:    -   -   Width.—Average 2.1 cm.        -   Quantity.—15, fused.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Apex.—Truncate.        -   Margin.—Entire.-   Color:    -   -   When opening.—Inner surface: Near RHS Red-Purple 59B, near            base Purple N79B. Outer surface: Near RHS Red-Purple 64C,            near base Purple 79B.        -   Fully opened.—Inner surface: Near RHS Red-Purple 64A, base            near Red-Purple 71A. Outer surface: Near RHS Red-Purple 64A.            Petal color, fading to: Near RHS Purple 79A, both surfaces.-   Calyx/sepals:    -   -   Quantity per flower.—5, fused at base.        -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.        -   Length.—Approximately 1.6 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 0.4 cm.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Base.—Fused.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Pubescent.        -   Color.—Upper Surface: Near RHS Green 137A. Lower Surface:            Near RHS Green 137C.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 1.6 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.2 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Green 144B.        -   Orientation.—Approximately 45 degree angle from stem.-   Fragrance: Sweet.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:    -   -   Number.—5.        -   Filament length.—Approximately 1.1 cm.-   Anthers:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 0.1 cm.        -   Shape.—Oblate.        -   Color.—RHS Greyed-Purple N186B.        -   Pollen.—Not observed.-   Pistil:    -   -   Number.—1.        -   Length.—Approximately 0.3 cm.        -   Style.—Length: Approximately 0.6 cm. Color: Near RHS White            N155C.        -   Stigma.—Shape: Globular. Color: Near RHS Greyed-Purple            N186B. Ovary Color: Near RHS Yellow-Green 145A.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: Not observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistant nor susceptible to normal    diseases and pests of Petunia.-   Temperature tolerance: The new variety tolerates temperatures    between approximately 6° to 35° C.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant named ‘PDBZI934-0’ asherein illustrated and described.